Watch



(No Mofviel.)

J. L. HUTGHINSON. WATCH.

No. 530,530. Patented Deo. 11,1894.

ml Hlllu llnllllllllllllu" UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOIIN Il. IIUTOHINSON, OF LA PORTE, INDIANA.

WATCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 530,580, dated December11, 1894.

Application filed April 19, 1894. Serial No. 508,105. (No model.l

To tif/ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN L. HUroHINsoN, a citizen of the United States,residing at La Porte, in the county of La Porte and State of Indiana,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in NVatches; and I dohereby declare the following to bea full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in watches, and particularly toimprovements in that class thereof known as pendent set watches, whereinthe yoke bearing the intermediate gears requisite to place either thewinding or setting trains in gear with the winding pinion is shiftedfrom the winding to the setting position, and vice versa, by mechanismactuated by the longitudinal movement of the watch stem, and it consistsin an improved means for throwing the winding and setting trains into orout of gear with the winding arbor and cannon pinion, and for indicatingon the dial of the watch whether the winding or the setting train is ingear with said arbor or pinion, which will be hereinafter fullydescribed and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In pendent set Watches, it is customary to support the crown' wheel,which is in gear with the winding pinion and transmits the movementofthe stem to the winding and setting trains, the setting wheel, and theintermediate winding wheel upon a pivoted yoke, and to move said yokeinto the two positions it may assume, t'. e., that in which the windingtrain is in gear with the winding arbor, and that in which the settingtrain is in position to turn and set the hands, by means of a pin orlever, connected with the longitudinally movable watch stem and engagingwith the yoke through a cam shaped slot cut in the pillar plate of thewatch. The longitudinal movement of the stem to place the setting trainin position for operation has usually been outward, and the position ofthe yoke bearing the intermediate gear wheels has been determined solelyby the position of the stem, no indication of the position of such yokeupon the watch dial having been given.

The object of my invention is to provide means for eecting the change inposition of the yoke bearing the intermediate gear wheels which aid toplace either the winding or the setting train in gear for its respectivework, in such a manner as to make the position which said yoke occupiesentirely independent of the position of the longitudinally movable stem,although moved from one position to the other by means of such stem. lalso aim to provide means for indicating on the dial of the watch theposition of the yoke bearing the intermediate gear wheels, and thusenable the person using the watch to observe at a glance whether thewinding or the setting train is in position. In this manner I provide amovement which, while provided with all safeguards, to prevent mistake,is simple in construction and easy in operation.

In the accomplishment of the objects of my invention, I employ,in commonwith the general custom, a pivoted yoke bearing the intermediate gearsrequisite to place the winding and setting trains in gear with theWinding arbor or the intermediate wheel in gear with the cannon pinion,but I eftect the pivotal movement of said yoke, not by mechanismdirectly connected to the longitudinally movable stem, but by mechanismwhich, while actuated by depression of said stem, is entirelyindependent of the same. A pin, projecting from the yoke bearing theintermediate gears,is made to engage with the teeth of a spur wheel insuch amanner as, when lying between two teeth of said spur wheel, tohold the yoke with which it is integral in such a position that thewinding train is in gear, but when resting on top of a tooth of saidspur wheel to hold said yoke so that the setting train will be in gear.The spur wheel is rotated by the rotation of a ratchet wheel mountedupon the same arbor, and this ratchet wheel is in turn rotated by apivoted lever, which is moved so as to turn the ratchet wheel by thedepression of the Watch stem. The ratchet wheel has twice as many teethas the spur wheel, so that it requires two distinct movements of theratchet Wheel to move the spur wheel one tooth. One depression of thewatch stem moves the ratchet sufficiently to place the setting train ingear, and another distinct depression of said stem is required to againplace the winding train in gear. The position of said yoke is thusentirely independent of the longitudinally movable stem. Through theaction of a pivoted lever, one end of which is constantly pressedagainst the yoke by the action of a suitable spring, and the other endof which is formed with a segmental gear which actuates an indicatinghand on the watch dial, the position of the yoke bearing theintermediate gears is indicated on the dial of `the watch, and one cantell by a glance at the dial whether the winding or the setting train isin gear.

My invention is fullydescribed in the drawings accompanying and forminga part of this application, in which the same reference letters andnumerals refer to the same or corresponding parts, and in which- Figurel is a view of the pillar plate of my watch, looking from the side onwhich the works are situated, and showing the longitudinally movablestem,the winding pinion, the pivoted lever operated by the depression ofthe stern, and the ratchet wheel with which the hooked end of the saidlever engages, and which is mounted upon the same arbor as the spurwheel which determines the position of the yokebearingtheintermediategears. Fig. l is a detail view of the watch stem. Fig. 2is a view of the pillar plate looking from the dial side, and shows thepivoted yoke (in outline) bearing the crown wheel, the setting wheel,and the intermediate winding wheel, the spur wheel by means of which themovement of the ratchet wheel shown in Fig. l is transmitted to thepivoted yoke, the segmental gear by means of which the position of thepivoted yoke is indicated on the watch dial, and various springs whichinsure the proper action of the parts. Fig. 3 is a view showing the dialplate of a watch, with theindicating hand thereon which indicates theposition of the yoke bearing the gears intermediate between the windingand setting train and the winding pinion. Fig. 4 is a detail figure,showing the mechanism by means of which the movement of said hand isinsured. Fig. -5 is a detail view of the watch pendant, showing themeans adopted for preventing accidental depression of the watch stem.Fig. 6 is a detail view of the spur wheel D, and the pin for operatingthe same.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates the pillar plate of a Watch.

B is the winding pinion, it being held in position by the bridges 2.

A is the watch stem, and, as is shown in Fig.

v l, its lower end is squared to tit the square ment of said lever issufficient to cause the ratchet wheel to move one tooth, the downwardmovement being checked by the stop ll, and the lever being drawn upwardas soon as the stem is drawn upward by the spring 5. Click 6 preventsthe ratchet from being turned by such upward movement ofthe lever.

On the dial side of the pillar plate, integral with the arbor D upon thesquared end of which the ratchet C is mounted, and thus moving with themovement of the said ratchet, is the spur wheel D, the teeth of whichhave one side curved and the other straight, as shown in Fig. 2. Thisspur wheel has but half as many teeth as the ratchet (l, so that itrequires two movements of the ratchet to move the spur wheel one tooth.Upon the surfaces of the teeth of the spur wheel D rides the pin 8,which is integral with the pivoted yoke E). Upon this yoke are mountedthe crown wheel E, the intermediate winding wheel F, and the settingwheel'G, and the yoke is so placed on the pillar` plate that when in oneposition the winding train will be in gear with the winding arbor, andwhen in its other position the setting train will be in gear with theintermediate wheel in gear with the cannon pinion, the yoke having buttwo positions, and the extent of its pivotal movement being limited bythe slot 10 cut in the pillar plate,in which moves an extension of saidyoke. lVhen the pin S is between the teeth of the spur wheel D, the yokeis in the position shown in Fig. 2, with the winding train in gear; butwhen the wheel is turned half a tooth, so that the pin 8 rides up on theface of one of such teeth and rests on the top of the same, which is theposition into which it is forced by turning ratchet wheel C one tooth,the winding train is thrown out of gear and the setting train in gear.Thus the position of the yoke 9 is determined by the movement of thespur wheel D. A spring l1 bears upon said yoke and tends to force itupward, so that after the pin 8 passes the top of the teeth of the spurwheel D, the yoke will be quickly drawn into its normal position withthe winding train in gear.

From the description of the movement as thus far given, it is apparentthat upon pressing the stem A, the pivoted lever 3 is depressed,theratchet C rotated one tooth, and the spur wheel D rotated half a tooth,thus throwing the winding train out of gear, and placing the settingtrain in gear, the said train being locked in the position it thenassumes until a further movement of the ratchet C, which can only takeplace by the depression of the stem A. In order that a person settinghis watch may notneglect to replace the winding train in position afterhe has set the hands of the watch, it is necessary to provide means forindicating the position of the yoke bearing the gearsintermediate of thewinding and setting trains upon the dial of the watch, and this Iprovide in the pivoted lever let and the parts operated in connectiontherewith. This lever is pivoted just above the yoke 9,

rig

and one of its ends is forced into continual contact with the uppersurface of said yoke by the spring 13, the fixed end ot which is securedto the pillar plate. The other end of the lever 14l is enlarged, andupon it is formed a segmental gear 15, which meshes with the pinion 16.This pinion is mounted upon the pin 17, which extends through to theother side of the dial plate and forms the arbor for the indicating hand1S. Upon the dial of the watch, as shown in Fig. 3, are marked thepositions which the indicating hand assumes when the winding train is ingear and when the setting train is in gear; and as the position of thehand must correspond to the position of the yoke 9, it is apparent thatthe indication afforded thereby is precise and accurate.

The operation of the movement is as l'ollows: Normally the winding trainis in gear, and the yoke 9 is in the position shown in Fig.2. When it isdesired to set the hands of the watch,the stem is depressed,and therebythe pivoted lever 3 isdepressed to the limit of the movement allowed bythe stop 4, and its hooked end, engaging with the teeth of the ratchetC, moves said ratchet one tooth, the pivoted lever rising and engagingwith another tooth of the ratchet as soon as the stem is moved upward.By the rotation of the ratchet C, the spur wheel is moved halt a tooth,so that the pin S moves up the inclined surface of the same and causesthe pivoted yoke 9 to turn and place the setting train in gear. Themovement of the yoke is indicated on the dial of the Watch through themedium of the segmental gear 15 and the pinion 17, by the indicatinghand 1S, which moves in the position marked set on the dial. The handsmay now be set. To re place the Winding train in gear, the stem needs tobe again depressed, thereby causing the rotation of the ratchet G, andthe further movement of the spur Wheel D, which allows the pin to fallbetween two teeth ofthe same and the yoke 9 to turn so that the windingtrain may be in gear.

In order that the stem may not be moved downward th rough accident, alocking device is provided which consists of the disk 20, externallyscrew threaded to permit it being screwed into the top of the pendant21, and internally screw threaded or an angular slot cut to allow forthe engagement of the lug 22 formed on the watch stem. It is only at'terthe stem has been turned by partial turn ot the crown that said lugpasses inside the locking disk, when for the first time the longitudinalmovement of the stem arbor requisite to operate the ratchet wheel ispermitted.

It is obvious that minor changes in construction can be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of my invention. Thus spur wheel Dmay be placed upon the same side of the pillar plate as the ratchet O,this necessitating merely lengthening pin 8, and different forms oflocking devices for prevent ing the accidental operation ofthe movementmay be made. These changes, however, are merely in details ofconstruction, and do not affect the merits of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Pat-ent, is-

1. In a watch movement, the combination with the winding and the settingtrains, and a pivoted yoke having mounted thereon a crown wheel, adaptedto be revolved by the winding pinion, and in gear therewith a settingwheel and an intermediate winding wheel adapted t0 be thrown into andout ot' gear with their respective trains by the pivotal movement ofsaid yoke, of means operated by the longitudinal movement ot the watchstem in one direction, but independent of the movement of the same inthe opposite direction, for effecting both the movements of the pivotedyoke, substantially as described.

2. In a watch movement, the combination with the winding and settingtrains, of a pivoted yoke having mounted thereon a crown wheel, adaptedto be revolved by the winding pinion, and in gear therewith a settingwheel and an intermediate winding wheel, adapted to be thrown into andout ot gear with their respective trains by the pivotal movement of saidyoke, a pin projecting from said yoke, a spur wheel engaged by said pin,whereby the position of the pivoted yoke and gears borne thereon isdetermined by whether the pin lies between the teeth ofthe spur gear oris riding upon said teeth, and means, operated by the longitudinalmovement of the stem, but independent of the position of the same, foractuating said spur wheel, substantially as described.

3. In a watch movement, the combination with the winding and settingtrains, of a pivoted yoke having mounted thereon a crown wheel, adaptedto be revolved by the winding pinion, and in gear therewith a settingwheel and an intermediate winding wheel, adapted to be thrown into andout of gear with their respective trains by the pivotal movement ot saidyoke, a pin projecting from said yoke, a spur wheel engaged by said pin,whereby the position of the pivoted yoke and gears borne thereon isdetermined by whether the pin lies between the teeth of the spur wheelor Whether it is riding upon said teeth, a ratchet wheel mounted uponthe same arbor as the spur wheel, and having twice as many teeth as saidspur wheel, and a pivoted lever adapted to be depressed by the downwardmovement of the watch stem, and by such depression to move the'ratchetwheel one tooth, and thereby the spur wheel one halt a tooth, therebychanging the position of the pivoted yoke, substantially as described.

4C. In a watch movement, the combination with the winding and settingtrains, of intermediate gear wheels in gear with the winding pinion, andadapted to be thrown into or out of gear with said trains, and means forind i,-

IOO

eating on the dial of the Watch which train is in gear with lthe windingpinion, substantially as described.

5. In a watch movement, the combination with the Winding and settingtrains, and a pivoted yoke having mounted thereon a crown Wheel, adaptedto be revolved by the winding pinion, and in gear therewith a SettingWheel and an intermediate Winding wheel, adapted to be thrown into andout of gear with their respective trains by the pivotal movement of saidyoke, of means for indicating on the dial of the Watch the position ofsaid yoke, substantially as described.

6. In a Watch movement, the combination with the Winding and settingtrains, and a pivoted yoke having mounted thereon a crown wheel adaptedto be revolved by the winding pinion7 and in gear therewith a settingWheel and an intermediate winding Wheel, adapted to be thrown into andout of gear with their respective trains by the pivotal movement of saidyoke, of a pivoted lever having one end held continuously pressedagainst said yoke, and formed at its other end and with a segmental gearwhich meshes with a pinion mounted upon a pin bearing an indicatinghand, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses..

JOHN Il. IIUICIIINSON. lVitnesses:

Il. C. SHANNON, J. C. NORTHWAY.

